Diaries of William Edward Peach 1915-1918 - Part 12

107

1917

Monday 10th December

Swimming parade from 9.30 to 10.30. Spent rest of 
morning on range. Had about 50 shots. Filled in 
afternoon in billets. Went to be early to get full use 
of bed for last night. 

Tuesday 11th

Reveille 5 a.m. Packed up and ready to move off at 8 
a.m. Left Desvres about 9 a.m., and travelled via Main 
St. Omer Road marched as far as Campaign. Had afternoon 
and night there. 

Wednesday 12th

Started off again at 8 a.m. and marched to Remilly 
Werquin (via Huppe and Ouve). Country through which we 
passed very hilly, consequently all just about dead beat 
when we reached our destination.

Thursday 13th

Reveille 4 a.m. Marched to Wizenden (Reserves) and 
entrained there for station past Bailleul. Fritz 
shelling Hazenbrouch as we passed through that station. 
Shells falling very close to us. Saw Frenchman lying 
dead near line. At end of train journey marched to camp 
at Kemmel. Spent night there.

Friday 14th

Spent morning getting ready to move up to line. Moved 
off full marching order at 1 p.m. Good track all the 
way. Took up our position in reserves just in front of 
Wyestrach. In fairly good dug-outs. Fritz shelling 
fairly heavily for a wile. Bound up a wound (in back) 
of Corporal of 57th Battalion. Very dark night. Light 
rain falling.

Saturday 15th

Camped in Pill-box along with cooks. Took a party out on 
fatigue at night. Supposed to repair a duck-board track 
in communication trench but found all O.K., so got home 
early. Got letter from Stan and Xmas card from Mollie.

108

1917

Sunday 16th December

Having fine weather. Took half a dozen men out with me 
and gathered 40 bags of turnips. Turnips growing 
everywhere. A party of 20 of us were out on a carrying 
fatigue to the out-posts at night (party consisted of 5 
Sergeants, 4 Corporals 3 Lance Corporals, and 6 
Privates). Wore out my good putties carrying a coil of 
French wire. Light fall of snow.

Monday 17th

Woke up to find place white with snow. Gathered another 
30 bags of turnips. Out on carrying fatigue again at  

night. Had two trips out to out-posts. Wrote a couple 
of letters.

Tuesday 18th

Lying in most of day. Shifted up to right supports after 
dark. Fitted up in good pill-box with cooks again. No 
fatigues to do, so had a good night's rest.

Wednesday 19th

Under more direct observation from Fritz so had to lie 
low in day time. Had nothing to do again at night. 
Turned out about 11 pm on account of gas scare. Gas about 
but not enough to do damage.

Thursday 20th

Woke up to find everything white with frost (looked just 
like snow). Heavy mist hanging about all day so able to 
move about without fear of observation. Ha a look round 
"iron tree" and our next dug-out in ravine. Lying off at 
night.

Friday 21st

Everything still quite white with frost. Ice on shell 
holes about four inches thick. Trying a bit of skating 
but came a thud and nearly got a nice cool bath. Had the 
night off again.

109

1917

Saturday 22nd December

Nice clear day. About nine of Fritz's balloons up 
observing, so had to keep indoors as much as possible. 
Moved across to our new position in ravine. Got a pretty 
good dug-out again. 
Sunday 23rd

Met Clarrie Jose. Camped right alongside him. Fritz 
shelling fairly heavily all afternoon. Put over a big 
number of gas shells. Several of the men felt the 
effects of it pretty badly, but it didn't trouble me. 
Out with ration fatigue at night. Had two trips to posts 
6 p.m. and 12 p.m.

Monday 24th

Messing about most of day getting ready for move at 
night. Had "Birdie" and Heane along to see us in 
afternoon. Got a lump of plum duff for dinner. Moved to 
out-posts at night. I was in charge of 0.11.1. Had to 
stand to all night (i.e. from 5 pm to 7 am). Very tiring 
job. Bitterly cold night.

Tuesday 25th

Xmas Day in the trenches. Getting what benefit we could 
out of a "1d. sit up" during the day. Breakfast 
consisted of a piece of bread and fat bacon and dinner 
and tea combined a piece of bread and jam. Snow fell 
during the afternoon and night, and settled to a depth of 
about nine inches. Usual stand to at night for 14 hours. 
Got rations through night as follows: 7 pm. Stew and tea; 
12 pm. rice and tea; 3 am. soup and dry rations.

Wednesday 26th

Practically same programme as on 25th. Beginning to feel 
effects of gas Fritz gave us on 23rd. Lost my voice. 
Relieved by C Company about 6 pm. and moved back to 
Ravine.

Thursday 27th

Not feeling too fresh so spent most of day lying down. 
Around having a yarn to Clarrie and Mat Black about old 
Alexandra days.

110

1917

Friday 28th December

Usual stand-to in morning from 6-7 am. Washing and 
powdering of feet, and having a general cleanup ready to 
move up to out-posts again. Moved up and took over from 
C Company about 6 pm. Snow beginning to fall again. 
Time dragging very heavy at night. Hours seemed like 
days while we were standing to.

Saturday 29th

All the heads got the wind-up. Expecting an attack by 
Fritz; especially on post I was occupying. S.O.S. sent 
up by 8th Battalion (next post to me). Everything seemed 
to go wrong. Not a single reply given by artillery. No 
attack developed. Apparently 8th had wind up also. 
Slept as much as possible through day (about 2 hours). 
Very dark night. All anxiously waiting for supposed 
attack of 29th but nothing doing.

Sunday 30th

All in good spirits expecting to be relieved at night. 
Learned later that we had to put in an extra night. Our 
officer (Mr. Tucker) sent away to Blighty for 6 months 
instruction at T.B. New chap (Mr. Crow) of 25th 
Reinforcement took over. First experience under fire for 
him. In our post of 11 men, six unable to speak above a 
whisper. Result of gas.

Monday 31st

All feeling pretty tired endnote at all sorry that we 
were to be relieved at night. Got packed up and wasted 
no time when 1st Battalion came to relieve us. Moved 
straight out and back to Rossinol Camp at Kemmel. Had a 
rough time coming out. Got a bit off track to start 
with. Got set again and out on to main road. Road very 
slippery. Just like walking on plate glass. Lads 
falling about in all directions. Some very amusing 
sight. Feeling just about done out. Gas making throat 
very sore, and making wind very difficult. Got a drink 
from comforts funds - bucked me up a bit. Put pack on 
timber, and hung on myself and let it drag me home. Hot 
meal waiting for us at camp.

111

- 1918 -

Tuesday, 1st January

Feeling a bit better after good night's rest. On sick 
parade. Got put off duty. Had a good lie in.

Wednesday 2nd

Off duty again. Several of us out in afternoon 
reconoitring position to be taken up by us in reserves in 
the event of an attack. 

Thursday 3rd

Told off to attend lecture in morning. Hung around for 
two hours or so and then found it have been cancelled. 
Still having trouble with throat and voice. Got a letter 
from Lil.

Friday 4th

Out with a fatigue party. Had a good bath at Divisional 
Baths while crowd at work. Out again in afternoon. Left 
party on job and Sgt. Marks and self went for walk into 
Neuve Eglise. Found party had cleared off when we got 
back. Posted photos of platoon group to Oll.

Saturday 5th

On dental parade. Had to go across to 3rd Field 
Ambulance as getting plate repaired. Went to picture 
show at night.

Sunday 6th

Bitterly cold morning. Went for a walk to try and get 
warm. Spent afternoon writing letters.

Monday 7th

On duty as R.O.S. Moved across to new Billets at Irish 
Farm (Chinese Wall dug-outs). Got settled down fairly 
comfortably.

112

1918

Tuesday 8th January

Reveille 5 am. Away on fatigue party to reserves at 6.15 
am. On job wiring, building strong posts etc. Heavy 
snow falling most of morning and it was not long before 
we all had the appearance of Father Xmas. Got back to 
camp about 1 pm.

Wednesday 9th

On dental parade. Had to tramp about 4 miles or so 
across to Locre to Dentist with 3rd Field Ambulance. 
More snow again in afternoon.

Thursday 10th

Across to Dentist again in morning. Found he had lost 
half my plate, so had impression taken for new set.

Friday 11th

Another trip to Dentist. Met Joe Ryan at Locre. Had a 
very restless night. Troubled with scabies.

Saturday 12th

Got my plate O.K. from Dentist. Fitting very well. 
Warned to be at Kemmel at 10 am next day to be decorated 
with Military Medal by General Birdwood. On Sick parade 
in afternoon. Evacuated with Scabies and Gas. Taken 
from 2nd Field Ambulance to C.C.S.(2nd Aust.) at 
Steenwerck in Ambulance (stretcher case). Comfortably 
settled down in bed for night. 

Sunday 13th

Spent day in bed. Got a good sounding by Doctor. 2nd 
Div. Artillery Band playing at C.C.S. in afternoon. 
Unable to attend for decoration at Kemmel.

Monday 14th

Left Steenwerck by Hospital train about 9 am. Heavy snow 
falling. Everything quite white. Very pretty sight.
Lying on the stretcher and looking through window at it. 
Travelled via Hazelbrouck, Calais, etc. to Boulogne. 
Taken to No. 55 General Hospital in Ambulance, and nicely 
settled down in between two white sheets. Quite a treat 
to see the sheets, quilts and pillow slips once again. 
Sisters very nice and anxious to do what they could for 
us. Had a good night's sleep.

113

1918

Tuesday 15th January

In bed all day. Had Doctor around to visit us. No one 
for Blighty. Rained heavy all day long. Hunt nearly blew 
over at night. One ward only about 50 yards from sea.

Wednesday 16th

Getting great treatment. Medicine, spray and muzzle 
(wadding sprinkled with some poison, to be inhaled). 
Marked up for Blighty, so naturally in good spirits.

Thursday 17th

Only sitting cases going on boat today, so have to have a 
bit of patience. Raining hard all day. Voice getting 
O.K. again.

Friday 18th

Carted off by ambulance about 9 a.m. Had a drive of 3 or 
4 miles to boat. After some delay was transferred to 
boat. Steamed off about 11.30. Sea extra rough. 
Feeling none too good in the head. Managed to doze off 
to sleep and thus miss half the agony. Arrived at Dover 
about 2 p.m. Transferred to train and got a start on our 
journey about 3 p.m. Route via Chatham, London, and 
Rugby. Got to our destination Whalley about 1 a.m.

Saturday 19th

Station right alongside hospital. Taken from train to F2 
ward, Queen Mary's Hospital, Whalley, Lancs. Had a good 
hot bath, some supper and settled down in a nice soft bed 
for a sleep. Hospital a fine big building, originally 
built for an asylum. Holds about 2000 patients. Ward 
nicely laid out, and everything lovely and clean.

Sunday 20th

Not allowed up yet. Spent the day reading and writing 
letters. Had the Red Cross man around to pay us a call.

Monday 21st

Got up after dinner and went for a walk around the 
hospital.

114

1918

Tuesday 22nd January

Mum's birthday. Up half day. Went for a stroll down the 
village after dinner. Managed to borrow an overcoat and 
boots and a Tommie's cap for the occasion. Found Whalley 
to be very quiet but pretty little village well in 
among the hills. Found an opponent at draughts to spent 
the evening having a few games. As usual able to hold my 
own.

Wednesday 23rd

Down at the Q.M. all morning trying to get fitted up with 
overcoat, boots, and hat, but had no luck. Stock run 
out. Went to concert in theatre in afternoon. Splendid 
all round show. Singing, dancing, fancy cycling 
performing, sea-lions, etc.

Thursday 24th

Not feeling too good so had to stay in bed all day.

Friday 25th

Got up for breakfast but was sent back to bed again. Got 
a letter from Stan. Nice fine day. Sun shining 
brightly.

Saturday 26th

Spent morning in bed but got up after dinner. Went to 
picture show in theatre in evening.

Sunday 27th

Received first of my Xmas mail. Got letters from Mum 3, 

Oll, Aunt Nell, Mary, Charlotte, Ruby, Venie 2, and 
Sylvia. Stayed in and wrote letters all day.

Monday 28th

Went for a stroll down in village in afternoon. Still 
having lovely spring weather.

Tuesday 29th

Got a letter from Jean. Spent day inside.

115

1918

Wednesday 30th January

Went to picture show in theatre in afternoon. Not a very 
brilliant turn out. 

Thursday 31st

Spent morning poking around Q.M. store. Still no 
clothing for us. Got a letter from Stan.

Friday 1st February

Went for a walk around hospital grounds in morning. Not 
feeling too bright so curled up in arm chair and had a 
sleep.

Saturday 2nd

Our Australian clothing arrived at last. Got fitted out 
after a wait of about 2 hours or so. Got a letter of 
receipt from the. photographer at Desvres. Went for a 
walk down village in afternoon.

Sunday 3rd

Went to the Methodist church down the village. Not a 
very big crowd present. Out for a stroll in the 
afternoon. Warned to proceed to Harefield tomorrow.
Monday 4th

Drew kit from Pack Store at 6 a.m. Dressed up in khaki 
once again. Left Queen Mary Hospital about 8.30. 
Entrained at Whalley along with 32 more of our boys, and 
left for Harefield at 9 a.m. Travelled via Blackburn, 
Wigan, Crewe, Rugby, Euston, through tube to Paddington, 
and on to Denham Railway Station. Taken then on to 
Harefield by motor arriving at hospital about 6 p.m. 
Changed back into blues, had a feed, and got settled down 
in ward 14. Rained fairly heavy during evening.

Tuesday 5th

Finding hospital very free and easy after red tape at 
Whalley. Four other 7th Battalion lads in same ward as 
myself. Met quite a number of others as well. Went to 
picture show at night.

116

1918

Wednesday 6th February

Sitting about all morning playing cards and writing. 
Went for a stroll round town after dinner. Went to 
concert an night. Not a bad turn out considering only 
half of party turned up.

Thursday 7th

Hanging about inside all day. Throat feeling rather 
sore.

Friday 8th

Got a bundle of Australian mail. Letters from Mum, Jean, 
Oll, Daisy, Vera, Grandpa, Lil 2, Mrs. Webb. Good 
picture show on at night.

Saturday 9th

Went for a walk to Rickmansworth with a couple of the 
boys in afternoon. Felt very tired at night. "Rickie" 
rather a decent little town. Good concert at night. Got 
a letter and photo from Gladys.

Sunday 10th

Had a good boracic bath and rub down with sulphur 
ointment (for scabies) in morning. Rather a dull day.

Monday 11th

In luck's way. Got parcels from Mum, Oll and Daisy. All 
in very good order. Had quite a "bust up" at night. 
Mum's cake A1.

Tuesday 12th

Got another parcel from Mum (containing another big 
cake). Went to concert in hall at night.

Wednesday 13th

Went for a bit of a stroll in afternoon. Met Maurice 
Thompson of Alexandra. Picture show at night.